U.S. Senate Passes JJDPA

WASHINGTON, August 2, 2017 – Last night, the Senate approved, through unanimous consent, S860, The Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Reauthorization Act of 2017, which updates and improves the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (JJDPA). Signed into law by President Gerald Ford in 1974, and most recently reauthorized in 2002, the JJDPA embodies a key partnership between the federal government and the U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia to protect children and youth in the juvenile and criminal justice system, to effectively address high-risk behavior and to improve community safety.

This year marks the 43rd anniversary of the JJDPA, which is currently ten years overdue for reauthorization. The JJDPA is the only federal statute that sets out national standards for the custody and care of youth in the justice system and provides direction and support for state youth justice system improvements.

“We are grateful for the leadership of Chairman Grassley and Senator Whitehouse on this vital bill. Reauthorization is essential to continue this key federal-state partnership which works to protect children, ensure fairness and improve outcomes for young people and their communities,” said Sarah Bryer, Executive Director of the National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN). “We look forward to supporting efforts to ensure full passage of the JJDPA this year.”

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar bill, HR1809, “The Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2017” on May 24, 2017. The House and Senate will now have to come to an agreement on the provisions found in the two bills before it can be signed into law.

S. 860 strengthens the JJDPA in a number of ways – it gives clear direction to states and localities to plan and implement data-driven approaches to ensure fairness and reduce racial and ethnic disparities; allows for easier transfer and application of education credits earned for system-involved youth across school systems; and encourages states to ensure that programs and practices designed to address the needs of system-involved youth are both evidence-based and trauma-informed.

The National Juvenile Justice Network is composed of coalitions, organizations and alumni of the Youth Justice Leadership Institute across 44 states and the District of Columbia, all of whom advocate for a fairer justice system for children and teens. For more information, visit www.njjn.org.